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Here’s How Mercedes F1 Can Win the Appeal Against Max Verstappen to Hand Lewis Hamilton the Title

Published 12/12/2021, 10:50 AM EST

Wherever you’ll look today, you will find two kinds of people. There will be those who agree with Max Verstappen’s win and those who feel Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton were hard done by.

And despite the cruel fashion in which Hamilton lost, there’s little that can be done about the end result.

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Yes, little can still be done about it.

Mercedes can still exercise Article 48.12 of the FIA regulations.

What does Article 48.12 say?

It reads as follows –

“If the clerk of the course considers it safe to do so, and the message “LAPPED CARS MAY NOW OVERTAKE” has been sent to all Competitors via the official messaging system, any cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car.

This will only apply to cars that were lapped at the time they crossed the Line at the end of the lap during which they crossed the first Safety Car line for the second time after the safety car was deployed.

Having overtaken the cars on the lead lap and the safety car these cars should then proceed around the track at an appropriate speed, without overtaking, and make every effort to take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car. Whilst they are overtaking, and in order to ensure this may be carried out safely, the cars on the lead lap must always stay on the racing line unless deviating from it is unavoidable. Unless the clerk of the course considers the presence of the safety car is still necessary, once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap.

If the clerk of the course considers track conditions are unsuitable for overtaking the message “OVERTAKING WILL NOT BE PERMITTED” will be sent to all Competitors via the official messaging system”

This is Article 48.12 – contentious issue is likely to circle around why only a few lapped cars (the ones between Hamilton & Verstappen) were given the signal to unlap themselves. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/ZAjNqMrJqU
— Phillip Horton (@PHortonF1) December 12, 2021

Will Mercedes exercise this?

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Speculating from the reactions in the Mercedes garage, Lewis Hamilton, and in the extended fan base of Mercedes, there’s little doubt in whether they will bring this to FIA’s notice.

But then again, it was FIA itself, in the form of Michael Masi, that made the decision. So logically, there is no reason why Mercedes’ appeals will be entertained.

Yet, if there’s anything we’ve learned from this season, is that things don’t always go as they are expected to.

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Max Verstappen Wins His Maiden F1 Title in Controversial Circumstances Against Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi

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Written by:

Shaharyar is a Formula 1 & NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports. A graduate in Journalism from Amity University, he has been a passionate follower of motorsports for better part of the decade. A Max Verstappen and Ferrari supporter, he dreams of a pairing of the two in future.

Here’s How Mercedes F1 Can Win the Appeal Against Max Verstappen to Hand Lewis Hamilton the Title

What does Article 48.12 say?

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Will Mercedes exercise this?